Hey guys! I'm a junior and a varsity athlete planning to apply to pre-med programs. How much do admissions officers value athletic participation? If anyone has experience balancing sports with academics while shooting for med school, how did you do it, and do you think it made your application stand out?
Hey there! Broadly speaking, med school admissions officers see athletic participation as a positive because it demonstrates time management, teamwork, and commitment—qualities that are also essential for med school and an eventual career as a doctor.
However, they aren't going to accept you just because you're an athlete—they're first and foremost looking for rigorous academic preparation and healthcare-related experiences, such as volunteering at hospitals or research. So, you'll want to make sure your schedule allows enough time for both sports and studying.
Finally, during application season, make a direct link between your athletic background and your interest in medicine. For example, highlight how sports taught you resilience, which you believe will be essential to navigating the stressors of a career in healthcare. To summarize, if you keep doing great on the field and in the classroom, I'm sure colleges will see the value you bring as a student-athlete. Good luck!
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